Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 223, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Queen Elizabeth of England, artist unknown.
The letter:
Trusty ande right welbeloved Wee grete you well. Whereas the Quene of Scotts our good sister charginge the Erle Morton, Lord Ruthwen, and otheres their Complices, remayninge nowe at our Towne of Newcastle, not only with the slawghter of hir servant David the Italian not far frome hir persone, but with certein other treasons towards hir owne personne, hathe thereupon maide diverse ernest meanes to us, bothe by messages ande Lettres, to deliver them unto hir; and on hir behalfe the Frenche Kinge haithe ernestlie required us to deny them any succor: ande seinge that wee maye not indede maintein the keppinge of them withein our Realme, and yet consederinge the displesour that the Quene their soveraigne presentlie bearethe towardes them, wee wolde be lothe to committ them into hir handes duringe the tyme of hir indignation. Wee therefore wolde that thaie shulde devise of some place out of our realme, where they maie provide for their lives and safety vntil suche tyme as ether theye may procure their Soveraignes wrath and displeasoure to be assuaged towardes them, or ells that suche indyfferency of Lawe (as they cane reasonably desier) may, accordinge to their doings, be ministered unto them. Wherefore we requier you forthwith to repaire to them, ande thus muche to signify unto them, that therafter thay maie take spedy order for some place for their saiftie out of our Realme, where thaie shall think metest. This matter you shall as of yourself firste declare unto them, as a thinge conveniente ande necessary for them to do: ande if they shall not thereupon make their resolution to departe, then you shall signyfie unto them this our pleasor in our name expressely. And thereof faile you not to see it executed. Yeven under our Signet at our mannor of Grenewich the vijth of May 1566. the eight yere of our Reigne.
With modernised spelling:
Trusty and right well-beloved We greet you well. Whereas the Queen of Scots our good sister charging the Earl Morton, Lord Ruthven, and others their complices, remaining now at Our town of Newcastle, not only with the slaughter of her servant David the Italian not far from her person, but with certain other treasons towards her own person, hath thereupon made diverse earnest means to Us, both by messages and letters, to deliver them unto her; and on her behalf the French King hath earnestly required Us to deny them any succour: and seeing that We may not indeed maintain the keeping of them within Our realm, and yet considering the displeasure that the Queen their sovereign presently beareth towards them, We would be loath to commit them into her hands during the time of her indignation. We therefore would that they should devise of some place out of Our realm, where they may provide for their lives and safety until such time as either they may procure their sovereign's wrath and displeasure to be assuaged towards them, or else that such indifferency of law (as they can reasonably desire) may, according to their doings, be ministered unto them. Wherefore We require you forthwith to repair to them, and thus much to signify unto them, that thereafter they may take speedy order for some place for their safety out of Our realm, where they shall think meetest. This matter you shall as of yourself first declare unto them, as a thing convenient and necessary for them to do: and if they shall not thereupon make their resolution to depart, then you shall signify unto them this Our pleasure in Our name expressly. And thereof fail you not to see it executed. Given under Our Signet at Our manor of Greenwich the VIIth of May 1566. the eight[h] year of Our Reign.
Note: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings; when talking to someone of a lower rank than their own, they would refer to that person as "my cousin", regardless of whether or not they were related.
complices = accomplices.
meetest = most suitable.
No comments:
Post a Comment